To date in Howard County, we’ve had 20,028 cases of COVID-19 and 253 deaths. As of 9:00am today, our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.8% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is at 9.17. There are currently 6 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.  

 

Case rates are increasing in Howard County, and the vast majority of new cases are among unvaccinated persons. At this point in time, the predominant strain of virus is the delta variant which is more contagious than other variants and causing more infections. As expected, there are some cases in people who are fully vaccinated. Last week approximately 20% of new cases were among those who are fully vaccinated. Most of these infections are mild and do not result in hospitalizations nor death. Most hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, public health officials advise wearing masks when indoors and when unable to physically distance.

According to the Maryland Department of Health, 86.1% of Howard County residents 12+ have received at least one dose and 80.8% are fully vaccinated. Howard County continues to lead the state with our vaccination progress, but we are still working to ensure everyone who wants a vaccine can receive one. Getting vaccinated is the single most effective way to prevent hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

If you haven't already received your shot - now's the time. During the month of June, the only COVID-19 deaths in Maryland were among the unvaccinated. Encourage your family and friends to visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov to find a clinic nearby. Let’s protect ourselves and our loved ones and put this pandemic behind 

Through August 14th, shoppers are exempt from paying the 6% sales tax on any qualified article of clothing and footwear costing less than $100, regardless of how many items are purchased in a single transaction. The exemption does not apply to accessory items, even if they are priced at $100 or less.

As you shop this week, please support some of our many small and local businesses.

My family and I were so honored to walk in the opening parade and visit many of the incredible booths and stalls. Special thank you to the Howard County Fair Association for their continued dedication to bringing this enjoyable attraction, with safety measures in place.

The fair runs until Saturday, August 14th. I encourage you, your family, and friends to come out to enjoy good food, great rides, and overall fun. Learn more here.

Sunflowers of Lisbon in Maple Lawn is now open! This field of beautiful, yellow blooms is the perfect place to visit with family and friends for a fun photoshoot or to simply enjoy some time with nature. With four different varieties, these tall and brightly colored flowers have an abundant source of nectar for our pollinators. Special thank you to Derek and Jenny for bringing this sunny attraction to Maple Lawn and for bringing a bright smile for all. 

As part of their opening celebration, Blowfish Poke will be there at noon, along with many other fun vendors and attractions. I encourage residents to visit this sunny farm before the season ends! Find out more information here.

August is National Black Business Month, and a time for us to come together to recognize our local, black owned businesses. To help kick off this month-long celebration, I visited Anegada Delights Caribbean Cuisine in Columbia. They serve a delicious Caribbean Cuisine and are committed to including local, farm fresh produce in their meals. 

Throughout the month, please continue to support our small, local owned businesses across the county. Learn more about Anegada Delights here.

COVID-19 has killed over 250 Howard County residents and infected more than 19,000 people in our community. We want to understand the effects of the disease on Howard County residents. Howard County and researchers from the Johns Hopkins University - Applied Physics Laboratory are looking for Howard County residents to help us understand how COVID‐19 has impacted our community. 

Those interested in partaking in this study can visit our team TODAY, August 9th, at the Blandair Park Pavilion between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. or tomorrow, August 10th at the Dancel Y between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Results from the test will be mailed to participants within 4-6 weeks. Residents of all ages are eligible to participate. 

Find more FAQS and information regarding this study here.

I was so thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Bryant Woods Manor, an assisted living and memory care facility. The past 18 months have been tough on our residents, especially our families that have loved ones in need of extra care. 

As we navigate our path to recovery, it is great to see new businesses opening to serve our community. Bryant Woods Manor will play an important role in providing quality care for loved ones in a home-like setting.

Learn more about the Manor here.

We’re tackling the housing and eviction issue from all sides, as the federal eviction moratorium will end eventually. To date, we have distributed $4 million in rental assistance funding to residents and landlords, keeping 1,259 residents from eviction. In addition, 120 households were assisted through mortgage funding, preventing 42 foreclosures. 

Assistance is still available. Learn more here.

I was so happy to visit Marci at Oh, What A Cake! to celebrate National Black Business Month and National Cookie Day. A Wilde Lake Graduate, Marci brings her passion for baking to our community and offers delicious custom-made cupcakes, wedding cakes, brownies, cake pops, cookies, and more! 

Please continue to support all our local businesses through this challenging time. Learn more about Oh What a Cake here.

Vivian “Millie” Bailey has been a constant pillar of support for our community, and I was so honored to join Howard County General Hospital and former County Executives Liz Bobo, Allan Kittleman, and Jim Robey to recognize her as the longest serving Board of Trustees member and a tremendous philanthropic supporter. To recognize her support, HCGH is naming their illustrious cafeteria after her, which has now reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Getting through difficult times like these are made a little bit easier with each act of kindness, act of selflessness, or generosity. Special thank you to Millie for her generous gift and for always being willing to help.

Our residents still have significant needs as they manage utility bills and rent payments during this challenging time. We’re tackling this issue from all sides, eventually the federal eviction moratorium will end, and we want our residents to know support is available. 

We have available rental assistance for residents and landlords, and we need your help in getting the word out to those possibly facing eviction. Please, spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors who may be in need. 

For more information, please click here.

Howard County remains the only jurisdiction in the state to surpass 80% of eligible residents fully vaccinated. In July alone approximately 15,000 doses were administered to Howard County residents. We continue to lead with 86.1% of eligible residents 12+ who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 80.8% are fully vaccinated, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

The single most effective way to reduce your chance of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are widely available and free. Encourage your family and friends to visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov to find a clinic nearby.

Howard County students in need of school supplies for this coming school year and invited to join our Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) on Saturday, August 21^st for its school supply giveaway event. This grab ‘n go event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to noon outside at the following locations:

Please note, advance registration is required. To register, visit https://HoCoschoolsupplies.eventbrite.com; the registration deadline is 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 13^th. Families may register up to four children to reserve a bag of school supplies (one per child). When registering, please choose the same pickup location for each child (ticket) as there will be a limited quantity available at each location. When selecting your pick-up time, keep in mind, supplies not collected within 30 minutes of scheduled pick-up time will be forfeited.

If you have any additional questions and/or seek more information about this year’s event, please call 410-313-6325 (English) or 410-313-2273 (Spanish) or email vmathis@howardcountymd.gov.

Tenga en cuenta que es necesario registrarse con anticipación. Para registrarse, visite https://HoCoschoolsupplies.eventbrite.com; la fecha límite de inscripción es el viernes 13 de agosto a las 5:00 p.m. Las familias pueden registrar hasta cuatro niños para reservar una bolsa de artículos escolares (uno por niño). Al registrarse, elija el mismo lugar de recogida para cada niño (boleto), ya que habrá una cantidad limitada disponible en cada lugar. Al seleccionar su hora de recogida, tenga en cuenta que los suministros que no se recojan dentro de los 30 minutos de la hora de recogida programada se perderán.

Si tiene preguntas adicionales y / o busca más información sobre el evento de este año, llame al 410-313-6325 (inglés) o al 410-313-2273 (español) o envíe un correo electrónico a vmathis@howardcountymd.gov

Here in Howard County, we remain committed to addressing the needs of persons with disabilities, to ensure they are able to thrive in all facets of life in our community. That is why I am seeking applicants, specifically those who have a disability, are relatives of a person with a disability, members of the general public or are board or staff members of an agency providing services to persons with disabilities, to serve on the County’s Commission on Disabilities. Comprised of 15 members, this Commission plays a vital role working towards this goal, addressing challenges with housing, transit, recreation, and more so that people of all ages and abilities feel welcome and empowered in Howard County. If you are interested in serving on this Commission, I encourage you to click HERE today to learn more about the eligibility requirements and details on how to apply. Please note, the DEADLINE to apply is Friday, August 27th.

Our Office of Community Sustainability (OCS) will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, August 24^th starting at 6:30 p.m., to discuss plans for a stream restoration project in Ellicott City. The County plans to stabilize a portion of a significantly eroded stream located behind Dunloggin Middle School at 9129 Northfield Road, using wood and rock structures and bio-engineering planting to re-establish a more natural stream, reduce instream erosion and improve water quality. Upon the completion of the project, the area disturbed by the construction will be replanted. The project is expected to begin in November 2021.

The informal meeting will include an overview of the design, followed by an open discussion. County staff and the project’s design consultant will also be on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments. To participate in the meeting by computer, go to www.webex.com and click “join;” the meeting number is 1572 91 3859, and “Stormwater” is the password. To participate by phone, call 1-650-479-3207 (note, fees may apply) and enter the access code 1572 91 3859.

Those unable to participate in the virtual meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions, should contact Ms. Lindsay DeMarzo with the OCS at 410-313-4374 or email ldemarzo@howardcountymd.gov. 

To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, I encourage you to check out FEMA’s website at www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

For more safety tips and precautions to take when it’s extremely hot out, visit www.ready.gov/heat.

Save the Date for September 11^th Remembrance Ceremony

I invite all of Howard County to join me, my fellow elected officials and command members from our Police and Fire Departments and Howard County Sheriff’s Office, as we honor and pay tribute to all who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including the four victims from Howard County, with a remembrance wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, September 11^th. The ceremony will begin promptly at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, and will take place in the Garden of Hope, located across from the white outdoor amphitheater at Centennial Park, South.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of children dying in hot cars, either because they were left or became trapped, has gotten worse, not better. In 2018 and 2019, a record 53 children died of vehicular heatstroke each year. The United States regrettably saw its first vehicular heatstroke car death this year in April, when a five-month old baby in North Carolina lost her life after being left alone in a hot car … it was only 70 degrees outside that day. Even with the windows cracked an inch or two or rolled down or the air conditioning on, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly rise. Also, shady spots offer little protection on hot days as the shade moves with the sun. On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees. A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's, and a body temperature of 107 degrees is fatal.

Misplaced you COVID-19 Vaccination Card? Never fear! You can easily request your vaccination records the Maryland Department of Health’s “Maryland MyIR” website. Maryland MyIR is a free website service that allows residents to view and print copies of their official vaccination records directly from ImmuNet, Maryland's immunization information system. ImmuNet is used by healthcare providers to securely maintain vaccination records for Maryland residents of all ages.

If you are in need of food, our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE), together with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and The Harriet Tubman Foundation, will be hosting a Pop-Up Food Pantry on Friday, August 20^th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ridgely’s Run Community Center at 8400 Mission Road in Jessup. All are welcome.

Your voice matters! This month, our OHRE Equity and Restorative Practices Unit is conducting a community equity audit to help us identify institutional and structural practices that produce inequities in services, policies and access. Focused on three key areas: (1) racial and social equity, (2) opportunity and (3) quality of life, this audit matters because every resident – child, youth, family, individual – in Howard County matters. To participate and share your voice with OHRE, click HERE today to complete the audit survey (available in English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin and Traditional Chinese).

Starting Wednesday, September 1^st, OHRE’s Outreach Unit is bringing back its Humanity Matters Dialogue Series. Through this award-winning series, participants learn how to authentically interact with people from different races and cultures through the sharing of dialogue, historical and socio-economic data, all while gaining effective communication skills with the intention of creating a more inclusive and supportive community. To register for this five-part series, click HERE. For questions and/or more information about this or future workshops and training opportunities, please contact OHRE at 410-313-6430 or email OHRoutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

If you are interested in honoring and preserving our past as we grow and change as a community, I encourage you to apply today for the County's Historic Preservation Commission. Comprised of seven members, at least one of whom is a resident or property owner from Ellicott City and one from Lawyers Hill, the county’s historic districts, the Commission is responsible for providing advice on historical resources and reviewing applications for alterations to historic structures, among a list of other responsibilities. To learn more about the Commission, eligibility requirements and how to apply, click HERE today. Note, the application deadline is this Friday, August 13^th.

The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) is renewing its plea to the public for information about the shooting of a pregnant woman in Columbia on July 31, 2020, which resulted in her death and the death of her baby. Rabiah Ahmad was 28 weeks pregnant when she was shot while inside a residence in the 6600 block of Dovecote Drive. She later died at the hospital. Doctors delivered her baby girl, Ahja, who remained in critical condition until she died five days later.

HCPD detectives are re-releasing video of the car they believe was used in the murder, an older-model white sedan. The video shows the vehicle traveling along the 8000 block of Harriet Tubman Lane shortly after the shooting on the 31^st.

Police believe that at this stage of the investigation, any small piece of information could help put together critical details in the case. The reward has been raised throughout the investigation to up to $30,000. Anyone with information is urged to please contact HCHD at 410-313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov. Callers may remain anonymous.

If you have questions and/or for more information, feel free to contact DPW's Bureau of Highways at 410-313-7450 or email highways@howardcountymd.gov.

To learn about DPW projects currently underway, visit https://bit.ly/2V6K5B6. Searchable by project category and street name, from this site you’ll find additional project details, including news releases about the project. You can also contact DPW’s Customer Service Office at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov for further assistance.

If you have questions or are interested in finding out about a State road (numbered roadway) project in your area, visit the Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) “Project Portal” website.

Tubs, cups, frozen food trays, reusable containers, takeout containers and even clamshells, marked with the #5 recycling symbol, can now be placed out for recycling in your blue bin! Like all other recyclables, these items should be empty, clean and dry before setting out for collection.

To learn more about the County’s recycling program, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/recycling.

Registration for our Department of Recreation & Parks’ 2021 Fall Activity Guide is now OPEN for Howard County residents. County residents can register online, by mail-in, phone-in and in-person. Non-Howard County residents, online registration for you begins this Wednesday, August 11^th at 6:00 p.m. on August 11^th, with mail-in, phone-in and in-person the following day.

If you have not done so already, I encourage you to check out our Fall Activity Guide to learn more about all the fun activities, programs and events Recreation & Parks’ has planned for our residents and beyond this up and coming season. From sports, dance and cooking classes, and take home and online programs, to what to do when school's out, there is something for everyone in this guide.

Tickets for Recreation & Parks 2021 Truck or Treat are now on sale! Set to take place Saturday, October 30^th, this fan favorite event is once again bringing the family friendly spook and a "wheely fun" day back to the County’s Gary J. Arthur Community Center to celebrate Halloween. Come dressed in your favorite costume to trick-or-treat at all of the trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles and more, while meeting some of your hometown heroes. Take pictures, participate in an "I Spy" scavenger hunt and more!

For the latest updates, be sure to check and stay tuned to Recreation & Park’s event Facebook page. 

Traffic Heads Up Around Centennial Park for August 15^th

Heads up, Howard County! Centennial Park will be hosting a triathlon this Sunday, August 15^th from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. As a result, motorists in the area can expect increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic on and around this time.

In case you missed it, I am pleased to thank the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation’s for its generous support of Every Kid Sports, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, assisting qualifying families cover their child’s player registration fees for by a youth sports organization, such as our Recreation & Parks sports programs. To learn more about this program, for eligibility requirements and/or to apply, visit www.sportsmatter.org/registrationfees/. Applications are taken throughout the year. Every kid deserves the chance to play sports.

Join Recreation & Parks tomorrow, August 10^th for its latest 55+ Speaker Series lecture, Creating Gig Volunteerism Opportunities. During this online workshop, participants will learn how to become a freelance volunteer by creating short-term opportunities that leverage their skills, expertise and time through civic engagement. To register for this workshop, visit https://tinyurl.com/GigVolunteerHCRP today.

Join Recreation & Parks and the Elkridge Adult Athletic Association this Saturday, August 14^th for the return of the Rockburn Open Car Show at Rockburn Branch Park West! Bring out the family and come get a close up at an array of classic and modified cars. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase on site. For more information on this FREE event, click HERE.

Recently, more than 1,300 athletes participated in the Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Tournament, in partnership with Corrigan Sports Enterprises at the County’s Troy Park at Elkridge and Blandair Regional Park in Columbia. Teams from across the country came to compete in this co-ed tournament on July 29^th to August 1^st. Congratulations to our winning teams, listed below:

Recreation & Parks campers have had a blast all summer long as they have had a chance to try new things, learn new skills and make new friends! I invite you to check out and enjoy this Recreation & Parks’ full gallery of photos from this summer’s camps.